The Growing Influence of Bunmi Tunji Ojo in Ondo State Politics

Politics, at its finest, is not merely about winning elections or occupying public offices. It is about touching lives, creating opportunities and leaving behind a generation that is better than the one you met. Every great political leader in history is remembered, not because of the number of speeches delivered or billboards erected in their honour, but because of the number of people whose lives they transformed.

There is a timeless saying that the greatest investment any leader can make is not in buildings, roads or monuments, but in people. Human capital development remains the most sustainable form of empowerment. A man who knows how to build people will never struggle to build a political structure because the people he has lifted will naturally become his greatest ambassadors.

This reality appears to be shaping the growing political influence of Hon. BTO in Ondo State.

Across the political landscape, conversations about his style of leadership are becoming louder. Many of those who have followed his political journey argue that his greatest strength is not rhetoric or propaganda but his deliberate investment in people. They believe that while many politicians focus on structures, BTO focuses on human beings, and that may ultimately become his biggest political asset.

For years, Nigerian politics has been characterised by a “use-and-dump” culture. Followers are often remembered only during election campaigns and forgotten immediately after victory. Young people work tirelessly for political leaders, hoping for opportunities that rarely come. They are rewarded with endless promises, excuses and occasional handouts that do little to change their lives.

That pattern, many observers argue, has become too familiar.

What many supporters say distinguishes BTO is his apparent commitment to ensuring that those around him do not merely remain political followers but become economically independent individuals. They point to employment opportunities facilitated for young graduates, appointments secured for associates, support for small businesses, assistance to students’ organisations, backing for non-governmental organisations, and care extended to widows and elderly citizens.

According to his supporters, these efforts are not isolated acts of generosity but part of a broader philosophy that leadership should improve lives. They argue that a leader’s greatest legacy is not the number of loyal followers he commands but the number of successful people he has helped produce.

It is often said that some leaders deliberately keep their followers dependent. They fear that once those around them become financially stable, they may no longer remain loyal. Consequently, opportunities are withheld, contracts are denied, employment is frustrated and empowerment becomes selective.

That mentality has done enormous damage to our political culture.

A truly confident leader should not be afraid of the success of those around him. Rather, he should celebrate it. Leadership should reproduce leaders, not permanent dependants.

Those who admire BTO frequently cite this as one of his defining qualities. They say he believes that helping people should not be conditional upon whether they remain politically loyal forever. If you have the opportunity to change someone’s life today, you do it because it is the right thing to do, not because you expect lifelong political dividends.

Many of his admirers also point to what they describe as consistent support for members of his political family. They argue that beyond monthly welfare, he has sought opportunities that can give people lasting financial stability through jobs, business support and other forms of empowerment.

If these perceptions continue to spread, they could become one of the defining factors in Ondo State politics in the years ahead.

Politics ultimately belongs to the people. And people naturally gravitate towards leaders who stand with them during difficult moments. Compassion is remembered far longer than campaign slogans. Empathy travels farther than political posters.

Some supporters have even begun comparing BTO’s style of investing in people with the political model associated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, where building human capacity is seen as a cornerstone of enduring political influence. Whether one agrees with that comparison or not, it reflects how some people perceive his growing political footprint.

If indeed a leader has consistently invested in people across the 203 wards, the 18 local government areas and the three senatorial districts of Ondo State, it is understandable why many believe such goodwill could eventually translate into significant political capital.

History repeatedly teaches one lesson: people hardly forget those who stood by them when they had nothing.

As conversations gradually shift towards the future of Ondo State politics, one question will continue to surface: what qualities should define the next generation of leadership?

Should the people continue to embrace leaders who are primarily concerned with personal image and political survival? Or should they place greater value on leaders whose greatest satisfaction comes from seeing others succeed?

These are questions only the people can answer.

If the overriding objective of leadership is to improve the lives of ordinary citizens, then any leader who genuinely prioritises job creation, youth empowerment, business support, education, social welfare and human capital development deserves serious consideration.

Ultimately, elections are won not merely through posters or political slogans but through the testimonies of people whose lives have been positively impacted.

When thousands of young people can point to one leader as someone who gave them employment, helped them start businesses, facilitated appointments, supported their education or stood by them in moments of need, such goodwill becomes a political force that no amount of propaganda can easily diminish.

Perhaps that explains why the influence of BTO continues to attract attention across Ondo State.

Whether that influence will eventually shape the political equation ahead of 2028 remains to be seen. However, one truth remains constant: leaders who invest in people often earn something far more valuable than political endorsements, they earn lasting loyalty, public trust and the affection of the people.

And in a democracy, those qualities remain among the strongest currencies any leader can possess.

Akinrele Gbenga writes from Sacramento in California, USA.